First Generation Firebird-L Mailing List ......................................................................... Thanks for the input, I wouldn't drive it as is at over 70mph.
I am going to look at the caster angle and shimming the top arm to introduce some positive caster, fingers crossed! It seemed to be a bit better putting the 5 1/4" pitman arm on which matched the idler, but that may just be me imagioning it. It doesn't seem to rub the front of the front tyres on the sub frame now either. Is it easy to check if Ihave a variable ratio box or a constant? Cheers Edward -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Jim Sent: 01 July 2009 05:34 To: First Generation Firebird-L Subject: Re: [FGF] Steering Help Needed! First Generation Firebird-L Mailing List ......................................................................... I know a lot of people like to switch to the later steering boxes but the local guy who does my rebuilds says there really not much difference between them and in some ways he likes the older ones better. The original quick ratio box is also a variable ratio which I believe is 15:1 on center but 12:1 at full lock, It also goes lock to lock in only 1.7 turns. The WS6 is constant ratio and I think it's 12:1 so it will be very quick on center, perhaps that's part of your problem. I also wonder if it has the wrong internal stops for a 69 and it's actually turning the wheels too far making them rub. I had a nearly new 69 400 back in 71 and it did not have any particular handling problems other then it is front heavy and plows in low speed tight corners, adding a rear sway bar and heavier front bar helps that immensely. I never felt the steering was too light or unstable except that with radial tires it felt like it was floating if I went over 90 mph. When it had the bias plys on it I could drive it at 134 mph/5000 rpm and it was very stable, more stable, in fact, then my 99 Mustang GT felt at 125. I haven't had my current 69 project out on the road yet so don't know how feels. I wonder if now you have wrong parts for both the pitman arm and idler arm...I've got one for a 69 camaro that I just measured and it's 5 1/4. Hard to imagine a 1/2" would make much difference but who knows. ----- Original Message ---- > From: Edward Gregory <[email protected]> > To: First Generation Firebird-L <[email protected]> > Sent: Tuesday, June 30, 2009 12:51:02 AM > Subject: [FGF] Steering Help Needed! > > First Generation Firebird-L Mailing List > ......................................................................... > Hi, > > I have a '68 Firebird 400. > > http://www.musclecarsuk.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=652 > > After periods on and off working on it, it is now on the road. > > Initiially when I got the car it had a 5 3/4" long pitman arm which > was worn. > > I replaced this when I got it on the road and the steering felt > horrible, it tended to oversteer dramatically with little steering > effort and seemed dangerous! Ithe tyres (stock 14" Rally II's) fouled > the front subframe on full lock also. > > I then checked the Idler arm and found this was only 5 1/4" long, so I > got a matched 5 1/4" long pitman arm. > > I have fitted this now and sorted out the tracking (set with slight > toe in). > > The steering although better still seems too light and very quick and > it has a tendancy to dig into corners pushing out the rear with very > little steering effort. > > The original owner said it had a later WS6 T/A quick ratio box fitted > and it is about 2.5 turns lock to lock. > > Could this be the reason for the steering problems? Or am I missing > something? > > Regards > > Edward Gregory > Senior Estimator > Robinson Construction > Tel 01332 574711 > Fax 01332 861444 > Mob 07747 100792 > > Visit Our Website www.robinsons.com > > Postal Address: > Robinson Construction > Wincanton Close > Ascot Drive > Derby > DE24 8NJ > > > ********************************************************************* > The information transmitted is intended only for the person(s) or > entity to which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or > privileged material. > Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking > of any action in reliance upon, this information by persons or > entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. Any views or > opinions presented are solely those of the author and do not > necessarily represent those of Robinson Construction. If you have > received this transmission in error please advise the originator, or contact > [email protected]. > > This footnote also confirms that this email message has been swept by > MIMEsweeper for the presence of computer viruses. No responsibility is > accepted for any virus or defect that might arise from opening this > e-mail or attachment, whether or not it has been checked by anti-virus > software. For further information visit www.clearswift.com. > > Thank you for your co-operation. > > Robinson Construction > www.robinsons.com > > S. Robinson & Sons (Engineers) Limited is a limited company registered > in England. Registration no: 823781 Registered office: S. Robinson > & Sons (Engineers) Limited, Wincanton Close, Ascot Drive, Derby, DE24 > 8NJ > ********************************************************************* > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > -- > Submissions to Firebird-L: > Unsubscribe from Firebird-L: > Help: > > Classifieds: > Owner Pictures: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Submissions to Firebird-L: <[email protected]> Unsubscribe from Firebird-L: <[email protected]> Help: <http://FirstGenFirebird.org/firebird/Firebird-L.html> Classifieds: <http://FirstGenFirebird.org/ubb/> Owner Pictures: <http://FirstGenFirebird.org/show/> ********************************************************************* The information transmitted is intended only for the person(s) or entity to which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged material. Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Robinson Construction. If you have received this transmission in error please advise the originator, or contact [email protected]. This footnote also confirms that this email message has been swept by MIMEsweeper for the presence of computer viruses. No responsibility is accepted for any virus or defect that might arise from opening this e-mail or attachment, whether or not it has been checked by anti-virus software. For further information visit www.clearswift.com. Thank you for your co-operation. Robinson Construction www.robinsons.com S. Robinson & Sons (Engineers) Limited is a limited company registered in England. Registration no: 823781 Registered office: S. Robinson & Sons (Engineers) Limited, Wincanton Close, Ascot Drive, Derby, DE24 8NJ ********************************************************************* ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Submissions to Firebird-L: <[email protected]> Unsubscribe from Firebird-L: <[email protected]> Help: <http://FirstGenFirebird.org/firebird/Firebird-L.html> Classifieds: <http://FirstGenFirebird.org/ubb/> Owner Pictures: <http://FirstGenFirebird.org/show/>
